Sunday, September 1
Piscataway, N.J.
12 p.m.
Rutgers University
(1-0)
5
vs
0
Vermont
(0-2)
1
2
3
4
F
Vermont
0
0
0
0
0
RU
1
1
1
2
5
Photo by: Tom Gilbert
No. 9 Field Hockey Dominates In Season Opener
Sep 01 | Field Hockey
Guillermina Causarano led the offensive onslaught with two goals, defense holds on to shutout
PISCATAWAY, N.J. – No. 9 Rutgers field hockey opened the 2024 season with a decisive shutout victory, defeating Vermont 5-0 on Sunday at home. Guillermina Causarano provided a pair of goals as the Scarlet Knights received contributions from four different goal scorers.
Defensively, Rutgers stymied the Catamounts offense, holding them to nine shots as goalkeeper Sophia Howard earned the win and shutout. The Scarlet Knights dominated much of the action with a 28-9 advantage in shots and 8-6 mark in penalty corners.
As the first quarter came to a close, Indy van Ek provided the first points of the season, scoring on a pass from Paulina Niklaus. Causarano was on the receiving end of a pair of passes from Niklaus and Kara Heck as she gave Rutgers a 2-0 lead heading into halftime.
The offensive production continued minutes into the second half when Causarano collected the rebound off a saved shot to extend the Scarlet Knights' lead to 3-0. It marked her second goal of the game and second time in her career that she accounted for multiple goals in a game.
Rutgers added two more goals in the fourth quarter, the first coming from Ava Cickavage who was able to perfectly time a deflected shot and redirect it into the back of the net. Kara Heck earned a penalty stroke with less than eight minutes to play. She delivered the final tally for the Scarlet Knights and sealed the 5-0 win.
The Scarlet Knights return to action on Friday, September 6 with at road matchup at Monmouth. The game is slated for a 4 p.m. start.
Postgame Notes
Defensively, Rutgers stymied the Catamounts offense, holding them to nine shots as goalkeeper Sophia Howard earned the win and shutout. The Scarlet Knights dominated much of the action with a 28-9 advantage in shots and 8-6 mark in penalty corners.
As the first quarter came to a close, Indy van Ek provided the first points of the season, scoring on a pass from Paulina Niklaus. Causarano was on the receiving end of a pair of passes from Niklaus and Kara Heck as she gave Rutgers a 2-0 lead heading into halftime.
The offensive production continued minutes into the second half when Causarano collected the rebound off a saved shot to extend the Scarlet Knights' lead to 3-0. It marked her second goal of the game and second time in her career that she accounted for multiple goals in a game.
Rutgers added two more goals in the fourth quarter, the first coming from Ava Cickavage who was able to perfectly time a deflected shot and redirect it into the back of the net. Kara Heck earned a penalty stroke with less than eight minutes to play. She delivered the final tally for the Scarlet Knights and sealed the 5-0 win.
The Scarlet Knights return to action on Friday, September 6 with at road matchup at Monmouth. The game is slated for a 4 p.m. start.
Postgame Notes
- With the win, Rutgers improved to 12-2 in season openers under head coach Meredith Civico
- Scarlet Knights are 4-1 all-time versus Vermont and 25-14 all-time against the America East Conference
- RU moves to 45-18 since the start of the 2021 fall season
- 12-2 against non-conference opponents over the past two seasons
- Five goals were the most since scoring six against Villanova (6-2) on September 8, 2023
- Guillermina Causarano recorded second-career game with multiple goals (scored three goals vs. No. 18 UMass in 2023)
- Paulina Niklaus posted second multiple assist game in her career with two assists vs. Vermont
Team Stats
UVM_FH
RU
Goals
0
5
Shots
9
28
Shots on Goal
3
17
Saves
12
3
Corners
6
8
Offsides
0
0
Fouls
0
0
Scoring Plays
van Ek, Indy
Assisted By: Niklaus, Paulina
GOAL by RU van Ek, Indy (FIRST GOAL), Assist by Niklaus, Paulina.
11:36
Causarano, Guillerm.
Assisted By: Niklaus, Paulina , Heck, Kara
pure corner shot from the top
23:03
Causarano, Guillerm.
rebound off saved shot
37:23
Cickavage, Ava
GOAL by RU Cickavage, Ava.
50:35
Heck, Kara
RU Heck, Kara PENALTY STROKE GOAL.
52:44
Game Leaders
Shots
4
SOG
3
Goals
2
Assists
0
Shots
3
SOG
3
Goals
1
Assists
0
Shots
2
SOG
2
Goals
1
Assists
0
Players Mentioned
M
/ Field HockeyM
/ Field Hockey
GK
/ Field Hockey
M
/ Field HockeyF
/ Field HockeyRutgers Field Hockey at Penn State Highlights
Saturday, November 01
Rutgers Field Hockey: Win at Indiana Highlights
Friday, October 10
Rutgers Athletics Launches the Athletic Excellence Fund
Monday, October 06
Rutgers Field Hockey Highlights At Michigan State - October 3, 2025
Friday, October 03
